Kröller-Müller Museum displays all 88 Van Gogh paintings

The Kröller-Müller Museum has hung all 88 of its Vincent van Gogh paintings for public view. This marks the first time the complete collection has been shown together since 2003.

Based in Otterlo, the museum typically displays only half of its Van Gogh holdings. The rest are usually in storage, on loan, or undergoing conservation. The current exhibition, "Van Gogh, All Our Paintings," will remain open until January 3, 2027.

A Thematic Presentation

The display breaks from tradition by avoiding a chronological layout. Instead of progressing from early Dutch works to late French paintings, it mixes pieces from Van Gogh's entire decade-long career. Curators have grouped works with similar motifs to create visual dialogues.

One pairing at the exhibition's start features two sunset tree scenes. These are Lane of Poplars at Sunset from October 1884 and Pine Trees at Sunset from December 1889.

Curator Renske Cohen Tervaert structured the show around a loose interpretation of the Christian virtues: faith, hope, and love. Tervaert adapted the concept, changing "charity" to "love." She drew inspiration from Van Gogh's only known sermon text, delivered 150 years ago in October 1876 at Richmond Methodist Church.

Masterpieces and Rare Works

The collection includes several renowned paintings. Among the 88 works are a large study for The Potato Eaters, Four Sunflowers Gone to Seed, Pink Peach Trees, Terrace of a Café at Night, and Country Road in Provence by Night.

A fragile landscape, Falling Leaves (Les Alyscamps) from November 1888, is on view for the first time in over twenty years. It is one of four views the artist painted of an ancient avenue in Arles shortly after Paul Gauguin arrived to work with him. After the exhibition, this painting will enter the conservation studio for treatment.

One of the most personal works is Still life with a Plate of Onions from January 1889. It was completed three weeks after Van Gogh mutilated his ear. The painting depicts a letter envelope from his brother Theo, which curator Tervaert believes arrived on December 23, 1888, carrying news of Theo's engagement. Tervaert suggests this letter may have been a trigger for the self-harm, causing Vincent to fear losing his brother's support. She has proposed the painting be retitled to include the letter.

Distinctive Frames and Future Plans

The exhibition reveals the collection's distinctive frames with raised square corners. These are replicas of early Art Deco frames designed by Jacob van den Bosch for original collector Helene Kröller-Müller. The replicas were commissioned in 2003 to replace simpler frames adopted in the 1950s.

This show is the last chance to see many works before a group of 29 paintings from 1888-90 travels to Japan. The touring exhibition, titled Grand Van Gogh Exhibition, aims to raise funds for a new museum extension.

The Japanese tour will visit three venues:

The centerpiece for the tour will be Bridge at Arles (Pont de Langlois) from March 1888. Following the tour, the Kröller-Müller Museum will partially close from September 2027 until around 2030 for a €125 million building project. Director Benno Tempel plans future special Van Gogh exhibitions with outside loans after the reopening.